The fifth annual HBCU All-Star Game tipped off just after 2 p.m. on Easter Sunday at Corteva Coliseum, bringing together 24 of the nation’s top student athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
But long before the opening tip, the celebration had already begun.
Hundreds of attendees packed the Indiana State Fairgrounds venue, decked out in their finest HBCU and National Pan-Hellenic Council (‘Divine 9’) gear, ready to support Black college basketball’s biggest showcase. The vibe was unmistakable from the moment of entry: a DJ spinning in the foyer set the tone as fans checked in, browsed vendor booths and grabbed snacks before finding their seats. Those in attendance included Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who took in the action from courtside.
For many, the game was only part of the draw. The Black Business Vendor Showcase, presented in partnership with the Indy Black Chamber of Commerce, transformed the concourse into a bustling marketplace of Black-owned businesses and community organizations. Some attendees arrived as early as 10 a.m. to support vendors, supercharging the Black dollar in the community.
A community investment
For Cameron Hunt, president and CEO of Favorable Behavior Support Services, the weekend represented something larger than basketball.
“I think it’s very important, especially with the networking aspect,” Hunt said. “I think if you’re raising children inside of these environments, we’ve got to be able to look inside of these surroundings and see culturally who we are and what we really represent.”
Hunt, whose business provides one-on-one mentoring for children with emotional needs and offers fingerprinting services, emphasized the importance of community investment.
“It takes a village to be able to raise children these days,” Hunt said. “For me, I am a part of this community, but I also want my children to grow up and be a part of this good community.”
Local business owner and vendor Erika Simmons highlighted the economic significance of the weekend, tying it directly to family legacy.
“I feel like giving back to our community, and those who look like us, is very important,” Simmons said. “It’s very important to have a passion for it.”
More than ball
Once inside the arena, the energy was electric. HBCU bands thundered from the stands, drumming and playing throughout the contest, not just at halftime. The crowd rose to its feet for long-range three-pointers and high-flying dunks, but some of the loudest roars came during the in-game entertainment.
When “Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District blasted through the speakers, dance-offs broke out spontaneously. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: “Swag Surfin'” by F.L.Y. (Fast Life Yungstaz), the unofficial anthem of HBCU culture.
Released in 2009, “Swag Surfin'” has become a cultural touchstone at HBCUs and many Black-led events across the nation. On April 2 at Corteva Coliseum, attendees rose as one, locking arms, swaying rhythmically from side to side, cell phone lights flickering like fireflies in the darkened arena. The sea of movement and light captured in a single moment what the entire weekend represented: togetherness, unison, collective Black joy.
The rosters for the fifth annual showcase honored two legends of HBCU basketball history. Team Bob Dandridge, named for the Norfolk State University legend who became a two-time NBA champion, was coached by Nolan Smith of Tennessee State University. Team Sam Jones, honoring the North Carolina Central alumnus who won 10 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics, was led by Prairie View A&M’s Byron Smith.
The broadcast streamed nationally on the BET Fast Channel and locally on WISH-TV.
A week of purpose
The game was the culmination of a week-long celebration that extended far beyond the hardwood. Events included the HBCU All-Stars Awards Ceremony at the Madam Walker Legacy Center, a College Admissions and Scholarship Fair, Friday Fun Day community outreach and a Social Justice and Civil Rights Panel breakfast.
Founder and CEO of HBCU All-Stars, Travis L. Williams, watched the event evolve from a vision into a nationally recognized institution that now reaches every corner of Indianapolis.
“These young men have a voice and a platform, and as you can see with the landscape across our country, their voice and their platform are needed more now than ever,” Williams said.
Hunt echoed that sentiment from the vendor floor.
“Support me as well as I support each and every one else inside of this building,” Hunt said. “We’ll continue to keep providing support. We’ll continue to keep networking. I think events like HBCU All-Star Weekend are very, very needed.”
The weekend also carried a deeper sense of purpose. Williams and his team organized food distribution at Windsor Village Park to address food insecurity in the area, and youth basketball clinics gave local children the chance to learn from the very players they watched on the court.
“This is a can’t-miss moment for Indianapolis and for our future leaders,” Williams said. “We’re bringing together the full power of HBCU excellence — education, opportunity, culture, and community — under one roof.”
As the final buzzer sounded on Easter Sunday, the scoreboard told only a small portion of the story. The true victory was measured in the connections made, dollars circulated within the community and a culture celebrated without apology.
For those who filled Corteva Coliseum — decked in Greek letters, HBCU apparel and broad smiles — the message was clear: This is what Black excellence looks like. This is what happens when we show up for each other.
And it is only the beginning.
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
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